Designing dignity into daily life
China Daily
9th September 2026
Designing dignity into daily life
Three youth-led projects show how accessible design can move beyond basic needs to support independence, personal choice and equal participation.
BY LI YUCHE AND GUI QIAN
Among the many art and design works on display at the 2026 Central Academy of Fine Arts Graduation Season in May, a bathroom design by 21-year-old student Li Shurong drew visitors' attention and went viral on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Xiaohongshu.
Its most distinctive feature is an AI-powered waste bin designed to help visually impaired women monitor their periods with greater ease and dignity.
Equipped with a built-in camera and an AI model, the waste bin can detect blood on toilet paper. Once blood is detected, it sends a voice notification to the user.
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